FOUR STRATEGIES GOD HAS GIVEN US TO FIGHT THE BATTLE AGAINST SATAN

By Rev. / Dr. James A. May

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:11-12

You can don God’s armor, however, without God’s strategy, you will lose the war.

Who Is Your Enemy?

Ephesians 6 tells you who your real enemy is.

11 …that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

The 1st strategy God has given you to fight the battle against Satan is:

PRAYER

James 5:16 (KJV)

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Prayer is used to bring us to a closer relationship with God. It teaches us what God wants from us (obedience) and allows God to bless us for complying with His will. Prayer is used for healing, James 5:16 (that ye may be healed), and for getting God involved “fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much).

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) says, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Prayer takes your carnal concerns and turns them from natural to supernatural. Prayer takes your messed up situation and gives it the power of God.

Use prayer when you are under attack by the World - When you’re under attack, take refuge in the Lord as your righteous defender (Psalm 5:1-7). In the Bible, the word for “world” means “system or order.” The Bible speaks of this system called the world and says that it is evil. (1 John 2:15).

The 2nd strategy God has given you to fight the battle against Satan is:

FASTING

For Spiritual Strength

While Jesus faced the temptation of Satan, He fasted for 40 days. There is a principle of spiritual strength that is demonstrated in fasting in the life of Christ (Luke 4:1-11).

For breaking through any strongholds and the seemly impossible challenges of life.

There was a boy who was possessed by a demon, an epileptic and suffers terribly, and Jesus disciples could not heal him. After Jesus had healed him, the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't heal him Jesus responded, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21

The entire city of Nineveh, including animals, fasted upon hearing the pronouncement of judgment from the prophet Jonah -- and God spared them (Jonah 3).

Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, “I humble myself through fasting.” When we fast, our bodies are being deprived for the purpose of drawing near to God, He has promised in return to draw near to us (James 4:8).  This is a spiritual certainty. The denial of self and the carnal desires allows us to become more sensitive to God. As we decrease, the Spirit increases.

The 3rd strategy God has given you to fight the battle against Satan is:

FAITH

Faith is the mightiest of all weapons. Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith.” Ephesians 6:16 says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” When our spirits are armed with faith, we may go confidently into any battle. We have an expectation of winning. We know before we fight that victory is ours. We can face our adversary with calm confidence and with a consciousness of an indwelling power that is greater than his power. Has not God said, "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"? (1 John 4:4) If our faith claims that to be so, then God will make it so to us.

Faith is simply trusting in the reliability of God. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) says, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

The more you know of God’s Word (the Bible), the more your faith will increase! Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” How can you have faith if you don't understand God’s Word? Hearing means spiritual hearing, discerning God's voice. Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of the boldest statements of faith. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Faith will snuff out the fiery attacks of Satan. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16.

The power and size of your “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16) is predicated on how much faith you have.  “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20).

You must have faith to please God! Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” We must have faith in God. Most of us, I think, have confidence in God's ability as a leader, and in his power and wisdom, and believe that he is able to overcome our foes.

It is not his ability that we doubt. The only question that confronts us is, "Will he use that power to conquer our enemies?” We see that he has made many promises. It is easy to believe, in a general way, that they will be fulfilled; but when it comes to making direct applications to the situations that we meet, it is there that faith sometimes fails. Will God fight for us on this special occasion? Will God help us now? Will he really make good his word to us? On the other hand, will he fail us in the critical moment? If God's promises are true, then the ones that relate to our particular needs are true.

We must have faith in ourselves as well as in God. We must have faith in our integrity and loyalty. Are we serious when it comes to faith in God? Have we thrown ourselves unreservedly on the side of God in this battle? Do we intend with all our souls to fight the good fight of faith?

Use Faith overcome the temptation of “The World.” The serpent (the devil) was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Genesis 3:1(NLT). Satan tempted Eve that by her he might tempt Adam. It is his strategy to send temptations by hands we do not suspect, and by those that have most influence upon us. Satan questioned whether it were a sin or not, to eat of this tree. He did not disclose his design at first, but he put a question, which seemed innocent. Those who would be safe need to be shy of talking with the tempter (taking advice from the unsaved). He quoted God’s command wrong. He spoke in a taunting way. The devil, as he is a liar (John 8:44), so he is a ridiculer from the beginning; and ridiculers are his children. If only Adam and Eve had faith in God.

The 4th strategy God has given you to fight the battle against Satan is:

YOUR FEET

The feet are used to escape (tactical withdrawal) from sexual sins and temptations.

Psalms 1:11 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

You will be blessed if you just don’t follow wicked advice, you will be blessed if you don’t stand on the road of sinners, you’ll be blessed if you don’t sit with the disrespectful.

To overcome the temptation of “The Flesh” We Need To Use Our Feet. The “flesh” refers to the cravings and desires of sinful man. It describes those sinful things that make us feel good. Matthew 26:41says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Flee fornication: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” (1 Cor. 6:18.)

You cannot expose yourself to fleshly temptation and expect to walk away untouched. “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27)

Flee idolatry: (1 Cor. 10:14) - the worshiping of idols. Whatever you do that gives more reverences to God is your idol God (Exodus 20:3-5; Matthew 22:37-40). This includes, watching television, surfing the internet, or anything you love or do more than worshiping God.

Flee youthful lusts: (2 Tim. 2:22). This scripture is important because it tells you what to do while you are fleeing. “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

You are running (tactical withdrawal) from anything that stimulates youthful lusts, but while you are running, you are pursuing, righteousness, faith, love, peace together with those who confess the Lord with a clean heart. Those who confess the Lord with a clean heart are other Christians.

God will show you a way out!

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

You are not alone. You’re not the first person to go through what you’re experiencing. Whether you’ve lost a loved one, your job, your marriage, or your battle against sin, there are millions of people around the world and throughout history who have experienced essentially the same thing. This should give you an incredible amount of hope.

There is nothing that can happen unless God allows it to happen. However, just because God allows it to happens, doesn’t mean He condones it! He Himself does not tempt human beings (James 1:13).

God’s faithfulness always overcomes sin and persecution. God promised His faithfulness to Israel, even after they’d committed unspeakable acts of idolatry (Ezekiel 16:59-63). God was faithful to David even after he sinned with Bathsheba. God was faithful to Peter even after he denied Jesus three times. God was faithful to Daniel in the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Sin and impossible circumstances are no match for God’s faithfulness.

He will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able. Whatever you’re facing right now, God’s grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). It may not feel like it’s possible, but on the basis of God’s character and by His strength you can overcome your situation. He will give you the grace to go through it. Whatever you’re experiencing now, God gives you the grace to endure it.

God has provided, in every situation, a path for you to take. With each temptation, he makes a way to escape from it, because He is faithful. When faced with the temptation to sin, you can choose to succumb or you can choose to resist and flee. Whatever your situation, God’s Word will light the way of escape and show you the path to follow to get you through the situation and out of enemy territory. He takes care that no Fate bars the path of retreat.

These four simple battle strategies will allow you to fight the day-to-day battle. Praying, fasting, having faith, and fleeing (tactical withdrawal). Don’t just run into the battle; use God’s battle strategy to win!

 

Rev,/ Dr. James A. May is the Pastor of Victory Christian Tabernacle Church, Detroit / Southfield Michigan. This ministry comprises of supporting other Christians by providing worship service preaching, training in evangelism, defending the Christian faith, providing Chaplin services for nursing homes and care centers, assist new churches in kingdom building, and provides other Christian services as needed. http//vctabernacle.org